Streaming sunlight & summer serenity at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Photo by Jerry Jelinek. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 7/7/17.

With massive granite towers stretching skyward and building-sized boulders scattered in valleys, there’s no need to ask how City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho got its name. Dramatic geological features make for excellent nature study and even better climbing. You can also learn about unique plants, wildlife, and the history of Native Americans and early settlers at this fascinating park. Photo by National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/27/17.

On June 30,1864, President Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Grant, protecting the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley – an area that would later become Yosemite National Park. It was the first time the government protected land because of its natural beauty so that people could enjoy it. Thanks to John Muir’s passionate writing to further protect the delicate ecosystem of the High Sierra, Yosemite became our nation’s 3rd national park 26 years later. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Basiago. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/30/17.